Hydro gas plant with utilization of the residual coke

Abstract

A hydro gas plant with utilization of the residual coke, comprising a gasifier into which raw coal is introduced for hydro gasification that results in the production of methane; a furnace for cracking the methane into hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and means for utilizing the combustion heat of the residual coke obtained during the operation of the gasifier, or a low-BTU gas produced from the coke, in at least the cracking furnace but optionally also in a steam generator. The use of exhaust gases from the cracking furnace is also suggested, namely in a preheater through which hydrogen is fed to the gasifier.

I claim: 
     
       1. A hydro gas plant with utilization of residual coke, comprising, in combination: a first gasifier (1) into which raw coal is introduced for hydro gasification that results in the production of a gas including methane with residual coke as a byproduct; a cryogenic separator (6) wherein the gas exiting from said first gasifier is further separated into its constituents, namely methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; a furnace (7) for cracking the methane originating from said separator into hydrogen and carbon monoxide with exhaust gases as byproducts; a heat exchanger (8) operatively connected with said furnace for passing the methane to and conversely a cracked gas mixture from said furnace in countercurrent fashion; a second gasifier (15) for producing low-BTU gas from at least a portion of the residual coke derived from said first gasifier; a steam generator (16) for adding steam to the methane before being passed from said separator to said furnace through said heat exchanger; and means for utilizing the combustion heat of at least one of the produced residual coke and low-BTU gas by burning in the processes being conducted in at least one of said furnace and said steam generator. 
     
     
       2. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, wherein said heat utilizing means is constituted by a conduit feeding the residual coke from said first gasifier (1) to said cracking furnace (7) for increasing the operating temperature of the latter. 
     
     
       3. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, wherein said heat utilizing means is constituted by a conduit feeding the low-BTU gas from said second gasifier (15) to said cracking furnace (7) for increasing the operating temperature of the latter. 
     
     
       4. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, wherein said heat utilizing means is constituted by a conduit feeding the residual coke from said first gasifier (1) to said steam generator (16) where it increases the temperature of the produced steam that is passed to said cracking furance (7) through said heat exchanger (8). 
     
     
       5. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, wherein said heat utilizing means is constituted by a conduit feeding the low-BTU gas from said second gasifier (15) to said steam generator (16) where it increases the temperature of the produced steam that is passed to said cracking furnace (7) through said heat exchanger (8). 
     
     
       6. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, further comprising a preheater (12) for the hydrogen being fed into said first gasifier (1), fed by at least one of said separator (6) and said cracking furnace (7); and a conduit feeding the exhaust gases from said furnace to said preheater for a better exploitation of the combustion heat produced in the plant. 
     
     
       7. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, further comprising a drier (13) preceding said first gasifier (1) for the introduced raw coal. 
     
     
       8. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one cooling stage (2, 4, 10) intercalated downstream of at least one of said first gasifier (1) and said cracking furnace (7). 
     
     
       9. The hydro gas plant as defined in claim 1, further comprising a converter (9) downstream of said cracking furnace (7) for combining and converting the carbon monoxide obtained from both said cracking furnace and said cryogenic separator (6).